Page 31

“When did you become so insightful?” Hayden teased.

“When I started going to therapy. I’ve had to grow up, Hayden. So did you, I think though, you’re still the same lost, scared little girl who tried so hard to shield herself from her painful past, she also blinded you from the truth.”

Frustration swamped her. Why did everyone believe she should forgive Nico and move on? He did the one thing he knew would break her. “But I—”

“Talk to him,” Bell said. “You won’t get the answers you need for closure until you do.”

Hayden’s head fell forward, and she closed her eyes. “You don’t get it. I don’t want to hear about his exploits or why he would cheat on me. I don’t care. I don’t want to relive the worst day of my life. I don’t need him.”

Bell chuckled. The low sound held no warmth. “You keep saying as much for everyone around you, however, you’re lying. I hate liars, Hayden. You do too.”

She did. “Bell, I... I’m not sure I can hear what he has to say to me.”

“You’ve conjured up all these things in your mind of what he’s done, you’ve never given him a chance to explain. Don’t you think, before you write him off completely, he deserves a chance to tell you exactly what happened?”

“Why? What’s the point of having all the details?” Anger simmered low in her gut. “I don’t need to know he fucked some other woman after he told me I was his. That—That—” She swallowed hard. No, she would say the words ever again. “It’s not worth it, Bell. My heart breaking all over again isn’t worth whatever he might say to help ease his guilt.”

Bell snorted. “You’re so damn stubborn. I swear you belong to Kalkin or even Caden,notJace.”

“Not the first time, someone has said as much. If I didn’t already have a complex, I might start now,” Hayden grumbled.

Bell sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “It’s not my place to interfere.” Hayden grinned a little and Bell held up her hand. “However, in this situation, I don’t think you’ll go searching for the truth until I lead you to it. So, come on horse, hear me out.”

Hayden sputtered a laugh. “God, Bell, you can be a little witch when you want to be.”

She chuffed. “Whatever. Are you going to listen or not?”

"Sure," Hayden answered. "Why not. What's this big secret everyone, including Nico, hasn't told me about?"

Bell pursed her lips. "I overheard Daddy and Mom talking after everything happened. Daddy said Nico might have been drugged, and he was sick. He had to stay with Danielle for two days."

Hayden perked up. “What?”

Bell bobbed her head. "Yeah. I didn't hear everything he said, but it was bad, Hayden. The whole family split their time between you and him because they were so worried both of you were going to die."

No. That’s not true. It couldn’t be. Nico was drugged? How? Why? Who? What would be the point? No, he got drunk, like she’d heard stories of how Caden had before the birth of Nicolas, and Nico did the same stupid thing. Yet, Hayden didn’t scent the bitterness of a lie. “I... Bell, do you understand what you’re saying?”

“Yes.” Her bottom lip trembled. “We didn’t know how to reach you in those first few weeks. You were in this shell a-a fog of pain and grief. Hayden, I—”

“I can’t,” Hayden said. “No more. Please, Bell. I don’t want to hear anymore. I don’t want to remember. I don’t want to listen. I can’t do this if I have to relive every moment and dissect my past to find the truth. Don’t ask this of me.”

Bell lifted her chin and stared down her nose, looking every bit of an imposing Alpha. “I’m not asking anymore, Hayden. I’m telling you to grow up. Make a bridge and get over yourself, before someone else does it for you and everything you want, and desire disappears because your pride got in the way.”

“My pride?” Hayden jerked away from Bell and stood, shoving her chair across the room. “I don’t have any, Bell. I lost it all when Nico fucked another woman and didn’t give a shit about me.” She couldn’t believe the words coming out of Bell’s mouth. “He lied. They lied. Everyone lies!”

Bell stood then and crossed to Hayden's door. "Just like you're doing as well, Hayden. Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie. You wouldn't know the truth anymore more in that twisted-up brain of yours even if you were smacked in the face with it.” Glancing over her shoulder, Bell pinned Hayden with a glare. “I won’t allow you to continue to live in the dark any longer. One way or another, I’m going to push you into the light. When you get there, if you don’t do it on your own, you’re going to regret you didn’t save your mate.” Without another word, Bell exited Hayden’s room, leaving her to stare after her cousin.

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

According to Alex, the fights went pretty quickly, depending on the fighter. Of course, Nico didn't care whether they went fast or slow—he had his eyes set on the prize.

Hayden.

His gut churned, and he saw red the minute Hill opened his mouth and crushed Nico’s little wolf. The fucking asshole didn’t need to be a prick. There were extenuating circumstances as to why his body had a visceral reaction to people. He never told Hayden because he didn't think she'd believe him, nor did he have a chance to tell her. Nevertheless, Hill had done what he’d set out to do, create discord. He threw a temporary monkey wrench into Nico’s plans. Yet, if the way she had stared up at him and hadn’t pulled away when he carried her to the bench were any indication, she cared, maybe more than she wanted to vocalize at the moment. Obviously, it could all be wishful thinking on his part.

No, don’t think of it as such. She was upset for you. For herself. For the whole fucking situation.A situation he caused and one only he could cure.

“This is how the matches go. Three rounds, five minutes apiece. No low blows. No hair pulling. No gouging of the eyes. No groin attacks.” Alex taped up Nico’s hands while the official droned on and on about what they couldn’t do in the ring. If they found an infraction in a competitor’s tape, they are automatically disqualified. “Do you have any questions?”